West Coast announced itself as a genuine top-four threat with a convincing six-goal victory over Carlton at Docklands on Sunday.

The Eagles picked up their first win in Melbourne from four attempts this season, outmuscling and outworking the undermanned Blues 15.13 (103) to 10.7 (67) in a terrific contest.

West Coast remains in fifth spot on 36 points heading into the bye but is now breathing down the necks of the Blues who are just two points ahead following just their third loss of the season.

Carlton was without a few key figures, including the late withdrawal of Mitch Robinson and an injury to key defender Michael Jamison before half-time, and their presence was sorely missed as the Eagles dominated the aerial stakes at both ends of the ground.

"We got the ball in long and deep into our forward line and when we weren't catching it, those boys were giving us a really good contest and we were able to crumb a few goals," Andrew Embley told Grandstand.

The visitors, who have fallen to Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn on the road this season, led by 28 points at half-time before responding tremendously after the Blues came to within four points after booting the first four goals of the third term.

West Coast's well-balanced forward line of Quinten Lynch, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski in his 100th game combined for a total of nine goals as they made the most of exemplary supply into the forward 50.

At the centre of the clearance domination was the dangerous ruck combinations of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui and followers Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey.

On the other side of the coin Scott Selwood (10 tackles), with the help of some of his team-mates, did a fantastic closing-down job on Carlton skipper Chris Judd who had little influence.

The defeat raises new questions over Carlton's depth in key tall positions after kicking its lowest return and conceding its biggest score this season without Jamison, Jarrad Waite, Shaun Hampson as well as hard heads Nick Duigan and Ed Curnow.

West Coast's contested marking domination in both the forward and defensive 50 along with its relentless tackling pressure all around the ground - second only to Collingwood in the competition this year - clearly inspired the win.

"The key to us I believe this year has been on defensive pressure, we have certainly watched Collingwood and Geelong over the last few years and their defensive pressure and tackling has really stood out," Embley added.

"Our mindset is they can do it why can't we?"

While Naitanui stole the limelight with a huge second-quarter hanger, Lynch pulled in 12 marks and Darren Glass marshalled a powerful and in form defence that limited Carlton's route to goal.

Andrew Walker was kept to just one shot on goal and towering figures Matthew Kreuzer and Lachie Henderson tallied just one mark between them and zero scoring shots.

As a result, the Blues relied on the ground-level brilliance of Jeff Garlett (three goals) and Eddie Betts (two) as their only multiple goalscorers while Heath Scotland picked up plenty of loose ball.

In a blow ahead of the Eagles' now much-anticipated home clash with Geelong in two week's time, Lynch, Cox and Will Schofield could all face charges from the match review panel after separate incidents all involving Carlton midfielder Marc Murphy.